InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Shards of Foxfire ❯ Chapter 11

Disclaimer: No, I don't own Inuyasha, but Naanaami and Amari are my characters!

Wow, that was a fast update! I only have a chapter and the epilogue left! I'm so glad you guys liked that last chapter, and I'm updating as fast as I can! I'll probably get the next chapter out in about a week, and the epilogue the week after that. So, I hope you like this chapter!

Thanks to my reviewers:

Zero27 - Yay! You remembered me! I don't have any instant messengers, but it would be great if you could send the episode to Sinmay! Read my e-mail!

Chinita - Yep, it rhymes! Here ya go!

Fairyangel124 - I have no idea what that means, but thanks for reviewing!

Killersmurf - I'm glad you like my characters, and you don't think they're boring. If any of you remember Amari's 3 kids, they haven't done much of anything, so I'll stop mentioning them!

Kitty Hanyou - Yep, it's you! I'm glad you don't think I do anything mary-sueish! What is waff, anyway?

Now, on to the story!

Naanaami followed Inuyasha, careful not to wake anyone up as she crept out of the hut. Inuyasha was waiting for her just outside, and led her to an old tree with low hanging branches. He climbed to a low branch, and then tried to help her up, but she got up by herself. She sat in a tree branch opposite to him and looked at him, wondering why he led her out here. "So, you can't sleep either?" Inuyasha asked.

"Of course not. I don't feel safe sleeping as a human." Naanaami said, seeing Inuyasha nod his agreement. Naanaami continued, "Sometimes, I wonder why we turned out as half-demons, not really in either lifestyle. Have we really done something so horrible in a past life that we end up like this, scorned by everyone?" Inuyasha shook his head. "It's not like that, Naanaami. My mother used to tell me that I was lucky to be a half-demon, the best of both worlds. Of course, she was one of the only ones to think that way.

Naanaami felt her eyes fill up with tears. "You're lucky that you had a mother who loved you. My mother thought I was too ugly and horrible to look at. My father thought I was weak and pitiful, and a female at that. The only people who ever stood up for me when I was little were my brother Koga, Ginta, and Hakkaku. I felt so alone, especially when Koga left." Inuyasha was surprised. She had been through a lot more than him, yet she wasn't depressed or bitter all of the time. She was usually very happy and bright. Inuyasha could tell that she hated it when she was a human, and he felt much the same way. "So, you have a demon form, right?" Naanaami nodded. "Yes, but it scares me. Whenever I'm in that form, I want to kill, and I enjoy it. It's sealed up because of this." Naanaami said, pointing at an arrowhead on a metal collar around her neck. Inuyasha hadn't noticed it before, but strange symbols had been carved into the metal, and the arrowhead glowed faintly.

When he looked away from Naanaami's necklace, Inuyasha noticed that the sun was already rising. Naanaami heaved a sigh of relief, as she always did when the sun began to rise after the night of the full moon. Inuyasha helped the hanyou down from the tree as they went in to the others. `Inuyasha's not so bad. He actually listened to my problems, and didn't pity me. If only everyone else was like that.' By that time, everyone else was already awake, Jinenji and his mother included. After a quick breakfast, everyone went out to help harvest the large fields behind their home.

Naanaami was shocked at the size of the fields. They must have been twice the size of the village! And the variety of the plants was amazing, too. Most of them she recognized from plant lore, and the others recognized most of them, but there were some that she had never heard of. Luckily, they were all labeled and split up into different sections, so nobody had any trouble organizing and storing them away for the winter, which felt like it was fast approaching. Apart from Miroku's perverted self, nothing ruined the beautiful day, and the work got done quickly. Jinenji was immensely grateful, and fixed them a quick lunch. Before he sent them on their way, he gave them part of his medicinal plants. "I think you'll need them. Good luck on your journey!" Jinenji said, sending them on their way. Their next destination was Mount Hakurei.

Sango sighed as they trudged up the path to the mountain. They had been walking for hours with no end in sight, and Sango was beginning to feel tired. She looked over at the others and noticed that they were worse off than she was. Since the mountain purified any demons that came near it, the demons opted to stay in a nearby village. The two hanyous also decided not to go, not wanting to transform into humans. The going was much harder without Kirara or any other support, and everyone was looking tired. Amari looked to be in almost as good condition as Sango, though she was panting. Kohaku looked tired, but showed no signs of giving up. Miroku looked extremely tired, as if every step were an effort, but the holy barrier around the mountain must have been strengthening him, because he was rapidly improving. Kagome, on the other hand, looked completely taxed. It took all of her strength to put one foot in front of the other. "Kagome, maybe you should stay here and rest for a while. We'll bring the dragon statue back unharmed." Kagome gratefully thanked Sango, and sat in the shade of a large tree as she awaited everyone's return.

Sango could feel her strength returning, although that was perhaps because she knew that they were nearing their destination. Mount Hakurei loomed closer, and they soon walked into the cave at the lower part of the mountain. Sango knew from past experiences that the cave led all the way up to the peak, where the statue would be found. "Come on, you guys! The end is in sight!" Sango said as she walked up the steep ramp to the cave. She couldn't wait to return back home.

As they were walking up the mountainside, Miroku had something on his mind. Specifically, he was remembering what had happened the last time they had been here.

***FLASHBACK SEQUENCE***

As Sango and Miroku ran through the cave, Miroku noticed that the evil energy was getting stronger as they got closer to the center of the mountain. Sango put on her poison mask as they finally saw what was causing the evil energy. Kagura stood on a ledge across from them, and hundreds of Naraku's demons were in the large cavern. Miroku almost uncovers his Kazaana, but Sango stops him. "Look, the Saimyousho! You'll get poisoned if you try to suck them in!" Miroku quickly sealed his hand, and they kept running. Kagura, however, didn't want that to happen. She threw some wind blades at the steps they were running on, and effectively separated the two by a large area of empty space.

Sango tried to jump the gap, but it was too far for her. "Just keep going without me! Naraku is all that matters!" Sango yelled to Miroku, but he shook his head. "I won't leave you." And with that, he threw some flaming scrolls at the demons. Sango followed suit with her Hiraikotsu, but then aimed at Kagura. It flew in Kagura's direction, but Kagura blew it off course. Sango was prepared to catch it, but then a familiar face caught her eye. `Kohaku!' The large bone rammed into her stomach, knocking her unconscious.

"Sango!" Miroku yelled, forgetting about his own safety as he jumped across the chasm to the unconscious demon slayer. He shook her repeatedly, and called her name, but she wouldn't wake up. Kagura interrupted Miroku by saying, "You know, if you left her behind, you would live a little longer. Miroku said nothing, but laid Sango down gently, a determined look on his face. He stands up, about to release his Air Rip, when Kagura butts in again. "Those bugs are in here. You can't use that here." Miroku took a while before replying. "Just who do you think I am? If the girl I love will live a little longer, then it doesn't matter what happens to me. KAZAANA!" The mighty power of the wind tunnel was unleashed as demons and insects alike were sucked into the wind tunnel. Miroku could feel the poison spreading, but he didn't stop until they back off.

Miroku laid Hiraikotsu across the gap in the stairs, and inched across, Sango slung over his shoulder. His hand didn't have the prayer beads on, but he wasn't sucking anything in at that moment. From the expression on Kagura's face, Miroku realized that he shouldn't be conscious at the moment. Finally on solid stone, he carried the Hiraikotsu as well, staggering towards the top of the mountain. The demons finally became braver, and he sucked in a few more, realizing that if he had to inhale any more, he'd die. He stumbled and fell, feeling his consciousness rapidly disappearing. Laying protectively over Sango (A/N: Not like that, perverts!), he thought `I'm sorry I couldn't save you, Sango' After that, everything else disappeared into blackness.

*** END FLASHBACK SEQUENCE ***

Sango was also remembering their encounter of Hakurei, but at a different time.

***FLASHBACK SEQUENCE***

When Sango awoke, the first thing she felt was pain. Then, she noticed the monk lying nearly on top of her. She turned bright red, and slid out from under him, about to slap him. But then, she noticed that he was unconscious. "Houshi-sama, wake up! Please, open your eyes!" But Miroku wouldn't wake up. Sango began to cry, tears silently dropping off of her face to splash on Miroku's. Miroku stirred, and opened his eyes. "Sango. You're awake, thank God." Miroku said, and then he saw the demons surrounding them. He winced as he tried to sit up. "I think I've done too much. Go on without me, Sango."

"No! I won't leave you behind!"

Miroku smiled. "Please Sango, survive this for me."

Sango refused to leave his side. "No! If you can't go with me, then we'll die together1" She said, throwing herself onto him. Miroku hugged her as best as he could and then Sango felt him sit up. He looked like he was feeling better every second, and Sango could feel the purifying energy.

Meanwhile, the demons were feeling braver. One of the demons stretched out a tentacle, about to attack, and Miroku hugged Sango closer to him. The demon was purified as soon as it hit the invisible barrier. Miroku let go of Sango and stood up. "Sango, let's leave. With all of these demons protecting the area, there must be something up ahead!"

"Houshi-sama, are you sure you're ok?"

"Yes, I am fine. I guess we won't have to die together after all."

"W-wh-wh-wh-what? Di-di-did I say that?" Sango was blushing and looking nervously from side to side. `Did he have to bring it up?' Miroku chuckled. "So, you forgot, eh?"

***END FLASHBACK SEQUENCE***

Miroku and Sango looked at each other, but said nothing. Amari noticed their exchanged, and told herself to ask Sango about that later. They were nearing the top, and the holy energy swirled around them, refreshing them as they finally made it to the top. The view was beautiful, and was of the Hijiri Islands, the lake surrounding it, and the nearby countryside. However, the view wasn't what they were looking for. The dragon was on its pedestal, its ruby red eyes making Miroku and Amari uneasy. After taking it, Sango stored it carefully in the pack she carried on her back. Then, they headed back down, anxious to take it to Kagome. The walk down the mountain took significantly less time than going up, and they reached Kagome quite quickly. She looked refreshed, and happy that they had brought the dragon pedestal back safely. The five humans walked back together, carefree and not noticing the shadow that followed them.

When they finally reached the demons and hanyous, they noticed that a demon was following them. It was terrifying. It was a dragon exactly like the statue, but larger, and it was alive. The humans came back unprepared, but the demons were ready. They slashed at the dragon, and it started to bleed, but that only seemed to anger it. It flew up high in the sky, and aimed for Naanaami, diving at her. Koga ran to protect her, but it was too late; the necklace that controlled Naanaami's demon energy had unhooked.

With a flash of light, Naanaami had transformed. Her claws and teeth were longer and sharper, and her hair was silvery. Her eyes were the same, but were cold and calculating. "You tried to kill me." Naanaami growled in a voice deeper than normal. "Die!" She ran at it, claws raking the flesh and surprising the dragon. Kohaku ran in to help, but Inuyasha stopped him. "She's too far gone to need help. Let her be."

The demon and the dragon were locked in a powerful battle of might. Naanaami would attack it, and it would strike back. Finally, when Inuyasha was about to go in and help, the dragon was slashed in two.

With shaking, bloody claws, Naanaami hooked the necklace back with tremendous effort, as if she was fighting herself. With another flash of light, she returned to normal, and collapsed to the ground, sobbing. Kohaku ran to her side, comforting her as he helped her to stand. Everyone else seemed to be in shock. They hadn't realized how powerful she was, but they helped her wash her claws off, getting rid of the blood-red stains.

When Naanaami had calmed down, Kagome broke the dragon statue into a thousand pieces. Immediately, a shimmering blue portal appeared in front of them. Kagome was about to step through, but Amari stopped her. "Kaede told me all about these. Before stepping in, you imagine exactly where you want to go, and you'll get there. The only problem is that someone with holy powers needs to do it, like you." Kagome was about to question how exactly to do that, but Miroku stopped her. "Let me do it, Kagome. I know how to." Kagome agreed, and Miroku made sure that Naanaami and Amari were holding onto him as he thought of the Higurashi shrine. "Wish me luck." And with that, he and the two girls disappeared in a flash of light, the portal remaining.

Oooh, cliffy! Review, and I'll get the next chappie out asap! You'll love it!